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As long as they throw Rich, I don't think it matters much anymore. Earlier on the show, PGA Tour golfer Wyndham Clark, Lakers Governor Jeannie Buss. Coming up, producer and author Will Packer. And now, it's Rich Eisen.
All right, everybody. It's our number three, the Rich Eisen Show on the air. The producer of a great television and film in Will Packer is coming to our studio. Who Better Than You is his new book.
I'm holding it up right here. He's going to have a great chat with us. Coming up in this hour, Jeannie Buss, the governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, just left. She said it was two weeks in advance, two weeks in advance of the Luca for Anthony Davis trade coming out.
And at the end of the interview, I'm like, you know, how do you respond to people saying, of course the Lakers get this guy? And she's like, we had the piece they wanted. We had the piece they wanted, Anthony Davis. And again, the fact that that piece isn't on the court tonight for the Mavs, because he's hurt for at least another couple of weeks while Luca's now feeling comfortable. It only just adds more to tonight's game for the Mavs. I did have to snicker. She was like, we gave up a lot for Luca.
I'm like, why? You didn't give up enough. Well, when she said that, listen, there's a lot of pieces in the NBA too in AD.
That was it. No, I understand that. But you also have to understand where somebody from her position is coming from. Cause we, we look at it like, okay, that's street clothes. It's getting traded.
And look who's in street clothes, right? The draft picks they didn't give up. We're a little smarter than just that. We understand Anthony Davis.
But it's not just that either. She got to know the guy, you know, when you're, when you are signing the checks and it's your job to basically let the basketball people do the basketball things and it's her job to basically run the organization and make everything Lakers like, you know, it's your job to basically let these employees number one and two be comfortable. And I'm sure she looked at Anthony Davis like, this is the guy when LeBron moves on, he's our guy until she gets a phone call one day from Rob Palenka saying, what about Luca? And she said, you know, you're, you're, you're, you own a team in the NBA and you're looking at these players and you're like, I'll never get a chance to have him in, in, on our team until the day happens. You can, and it's like, see you later, Anthony. And that's why she didn't really want to talk about how, of course she's going to see her and say, we gave up a lot. And you guys are like, it's a reason no one in my fantasy wants to do trades with me anymore.
Brockman. Cause over the years I've gotten over on over there. Now they're like no more dad guy right there. But that's the way I interpreted. She's not going to come here and spike the football or jam the basketball. She's not going to windmill dunk on the Mavericks right now. It'd be fine. I guess she'll let you do that.
She'll let you do that. It's just like she runs her business. It's these Lakers.
Rich are able to do this every single generation. They get the guy, they get wilt, they get Kareem, they get Shaq, they get Powell, they get AD. And now they get Kobe. And Kobe was a trade draft. So they didn't know he was going to turn into that except Jerry West did except for Jerry.
I don't know. 18 year old truly seeing the result a little bit, but I, I hear you, but I just mean an established star in the league with another team. You bring them in and it either is prime at the rate like prime is starting to wane. It's like the Lakers, man. Like the Packers in the NFL. Favre to Rogers to Love.
Exactly. 844204 Rich number to Don. Will Packer making his way to the studio. Andrew Berry, general manager of the Cleveland Browns speaking today about the Myles Garrett trade and the whole conversation. Let's see if he says the words for now. We're not trading him for now. Cause it sounded like there's no, for now is like forever. They're not trading him.
Hit it. So Myles, as you guys have all heard me say, he's huge part of our organization. I'm really good person.
He's an awesome player. Understand the trade request and everything, but our stance really has not changed. No, we can't imagine a situation where I'm not having Myles as a part of the organization is best for the Browns. So I just want to hit that off the top. And with that, I'll open up for questions.
How did you feel when you expressed no confidence in you producing a winner? Yeah, Tony, I think, um, if you, by that you mean the, the trade requests, I think trade requests, they happen across the league all the time. And I think, um, you know, at times for individual players that they'll have certain interests, uh, during different parts of their career where they're young player, a veteran player, things like that. Um, you know, that's not unusual. It's not the first for us. It won't be the, it probably won't be the last. It's not the first across the league, but we respect, we appreciate Myles and, um, you know, like I said, we're not, we're not interested in moving them. Not interested, can't envision a situation meaning, um, it's going to take more than two first, uh, first round draft choices. It's gonna take a lot more than that is, is the, uh, inner workings unless he truly means we're not trading him.
And he's right. Like there is no scenario in which Myles Garrett not being on the Browns is best for the Browns, but that is, he is 100% correct. And, uh, if he does in fact mean they are not going to move him, that they do not envision anything that that is not, um, you know, the, uh, language of, uh, the parsing of language to allow wiggle room once they do in fact trade him, uh, if they really mean that, then the scenario has hit that we talked to Myles Garrett about. And this is not just any trade request. There's a trade request with 29 year old who is at the top of his game and is a sure first ballot hall of Famer and takes care of his body and is 100% a lead pipe building professional. And it's not just a trade request is, you know, of a part of his career. He is basically, he basically told us at the Superbowl when I asked him point blank, what about, you know, they make you the highest paid player in the game.
And he's just like, I'm, it's got nothing to do with money. It is a vote of no confidence that the way things are set up right now and the way I am in my window right now, I do not see winning a Superbowl here. So I want out, I want to go to a spot where I can. And uh, it's, we've now reached the part where what happens if the Browns don't move you. And so let's revisit that part of our conversation when Myles Garrett showed up on our set the Wednesday of Superbowl week in new Orleans. I'm already hearing when you say you want out from Cleveland, listen, he's got two years of unguaranteed money left on his contract.
Brown's all I got to do is just make them the richest guy at the position in the game and he'll go back and he'll be a Brown. And that's the end of that. How do you respond to that? Where that there's that this is something that can be bridged, fixed, and you can stay with the Cleveland Browns.
How do you, how do you say, I said, I don't care about the money. I just want to win the championship. Now, is it, is it something that, uh, no, maybe they end up keeping me or saying that they're not taking any offers.
That's a possibility. But uh, no, I just want people to know that it's not about me being the highest paid non quarterback or no me having a huge contract or any of that. I want to say no at the end of the season. I played in the biggest games that I won at the end of my career and I had a chance to display my talents and everything I had. And uh, no, it, it all came to fruition.
You know, everything that I dreamed and everything that I hoped for in that trophy. That's right in front of you. I don't think we've reached standoff time yet. Um, it's Andrew Berry doesn't have to answer many more questions between now and the draft. There may be one more press conference to come. You just got through today and that's the end of that. Um, and I think there's two ways to read it. They are absolutely not going to trade him and it's too bad.
And we'll see what miles Garrett's next move is or saying that we don't envision a scenario. It's just a code for the number of people that have called us. It's not enough. Don't like the offer. It's not enough.
8 4 4 2 0 4, which is the number two down here on the program. Uh, overreaction Monday on a Tuesday. You want to hit it? Let's do it.
Let's go fast. That was crap. That was garbage.
This place sucks. I didn't step on it. That's not, I think three in a row. I'm on a, I'm on a roll by not stepping on that. Let's go fast. Everybody good. Good. Good.
Great to see you guys. Selectively aggressive. Won't be any better than all in for the Cowboys off season.
Hmm. You're referring to Stephen Jones saying that the Dallas Cowboys are going to be selectively aggressive and free agency, which is, I would say at least for you, um, TJ, um, it is better than all in for the Cowboys that it's going to be at least somebody and it's better than being indiscriminately aggressive. Don't you think? I mean, I guess, you know, yeah, I think the Cowboys learned from last year. I just cannot wait to get to, to, um, Indianapolis to find out what, what they are thinking on that front. They haven't learned anything.
I think they have. I'm looking at the glass half full or not because you, you are praying for another in the come out of this man's mouth to give us something to talk about for the next year. So I cannot wait. I cannot wait for what you hear about the Cowboys this week while you're in India.
Can I just stayed on the record here on the record for everybody to hear and see, I would prefer the Cowboys to be in the playoffs. It's better. It's more fun. It's more intense.
I think it's not fun for you guys for them to be, no, no, no, no, no, not as non-fans. Yes. Maybe.
But I, I think being selectively aggressive, that means they're going to identify somebody and go get them and, and pay him, pay him and go ahead and pay him. James Cook. That would be a nice answer. Go get him, put him a star on the side of the helmet and go, whoa, go get him. Well, we have a hall of fame size hole at guard. Go get him.
That's where you got it. I don't know what your emphasis, right? Maybe James Cook ain't the guy, uh, you go draft Ashton gente. If you can, I just think it's going to be better than all doing. They did nothing last year. They're not going to do nothing again.
They're going to be selectively aggressive. What else Chris? Rich, we know, we know this part of the year, it's all about the quarterbacks. We're talking so much about Chidor and Cam Ward and Jackson Dart. One guy we are not talking about is going to throw in Indianapolis and reports coming out. He played all of last season with a torn oblique.
Quinn Ewers will be the third quarterback drafted in April. That's an overreaction. Maybe true, but right now it's overreaction played over the torn oblique all year, huh? Heard himself against Michigan and then played the whole year with it. Dude, Michigan screwed him up, huh? Yeah.
Well, guess what? Um, he screwed Michigan up all day. He did with that torn oblique.
It's just kind of crazy. Why wouldn't they go to arch if his oblique is torn? I think he's going to rip it at the combine. I hope so.
He's going to have an awesome pro day. We're going to start talking ourselves and does somebody trade up for Quinn Ewers? Okay. Okay. I just don't think it's an overreaction. Rich, you said why didn't go to arch? Yeah.
They don't want me to have a boat. Okay. But good for him playing through it. And I think that may help him move up a draft board or what have you. I still think it's Jackson Dart. That'll be third one off the board, but we'll see.
There's lots between now and then. Chris? Rich, yesterday on the Overreaction Monday podcast, which is still out there, wherever you get your podcasts on our YouTube channel. I gave you the player I identified as entering 2025 with the most to prove. I said, that's Kyler Murray. Rich, the head coach who fits this bill. Sean McDermott enters 2025 as the coach with the most to prove. As quarterback, as MVP, why don't they win? Maybe it's the coach's fault.
Look at you. That's absurd. You really think Kyler Murray has more to prove than anyone? No, he's saying that's the quarterback.
That's the player who's got the most to prove more than anybody. And she could seek my response to that. I pointed out to him, I'll just give you an idea. I was sounding it out, mostly agreeing with him until I remembered the name of the guy that he is going to pound the drum on once he makes the most money in the history of the National Football League and Brock Purdy. And he goes, you're actually, that's right. So I had him disprove himself. Please listen and watch that pot.
It's just delightful actually to watch that whole process play out. You're saying Brock Purdy is going to sign the biggest deal? Yeah.
Can we focus on Sean McDermott here? Come on, man. Come on.
This guy's on the hottest of hot seats. That's absurd. It's absurd.
It is absurd. They damn near knocked off the Chiefs in the AFC. Hold on a second. Wait, did they? They didn't.
I understand that. Have they ever beaten the Chiefs in the playoffs, TJ? Quick. Nope.
Okay. Brian Schottenheimer has got nothing to prove, nothing to prove. Zero to prove. I'm not expecting anything out of Brian Schottenheimer.
Are you serious? The Dallas Cowboys. Nobody's expecting anything out of Brian Schottenheimer. The guy makes the least amount of money in the league and these guys got no resources.
I have a feeling that members of the media in our business will be selectively aggressive when it comes to holding him to account. Overreaction. What else you got, Christopher?
All right, last one. We just had a Lakers governor, Jeannie Buss here. Yes. And I'm watching a little bit of college basketball and I'm seeing what's going on in Storrs, Connecticut. Dan Hurley has to regret not taking the Lakers job. I don't know.
I got Luca now. I know. Yeah. They're probably going to win the West. That's not a bad one.
He didn't have this information when he turned the job. When it all, when it all does come down to it though, I think it was just a West coast, East coast sort of a situation like Biggie and Puck. But let's, can we put a pin in this and when the Yukon men eventually go on their run, you could take down the music, sir. When the Yukon men eventually go on their run to a final four again this year that nobody's seeing coming because they're Yukon and it's Dan Hurley and it's just them.
Let's revisit that. If he goes three in a row or has a nice run again, he didn't see Luca coming. Nobody did. Zero people did.
Jeannie Buss just left here saying she found out two weeks before that it was possible. Nobody saw it coming. Chill out bro. Relax. But he's also an East coast guy. And as you know, I think he and his wife like to stay up there. So very good. Good stuff, Chris. That's not a bad one.
I like the way your mind thinks. Sometimes we'll take a break. Will Packers joining us next, one of the most successful producers ever. And that's not overstatement coming up. In the NFL, there's no margin for error.
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Philadelphia Eagles, we have that to talk about too. Yes. Yes. As I'm draped, you are Eagles paraphernalia. Now that's, that's like your gut. So you got the green hoodie.
Yeah, I went green hoodie and then I went satin black jacket. I just noticed the black Eagle. This is subtle. This is subtle.
I didn't want to, I didn't want to come here and be, you know, blatant with it. This is a subtle. Yeah. I didn't notice it.
It's sort of like a watermark sort of situation that you have right there. You get up close and you're like, Whoa, he really is a Eagles fan. He's got a lot. Yes. Got a lot of Eagle stuff. I'm wearing a Jersey to the Superbowl with Jerome Brown patch. That's what you're going to do. Yes.
Okay. Random Cunningham Jersey. My Jersey has Jerome Brown patch. Well, what will it say on the back? We'll say heart. We'll say your name.
We'll say Cunningham. It's a real Jersey. Okay. I can't make it say heart. I'm no longer authentic.
If I make it say heart, it's gotta be a real Jersey. This is a real moment. Understand. It's a big moment for me, man. It's a big game. What do you think?
What do you mean? What I think it's going to be 80, 83 to six. I called it. I put my prediction out there a long time ago. Okay. I had a dream.
I saw it. And how many to that? So how many touchdowns then for Nick Foles? Then I was going for 32 touchdowns. Trying to do the math in my head right now. 32 touchdowns. We just put your 83 to six. I didn't want to show if my math was good or bad.
And that's why I just threw a number out there. It's going to be a grinding game and Foles is going into this game with so much confidence after the last game. He's got so much confidence. I don't care what you say. You can't beat confidence. You know how much confidence I have? You can't beat my confidence.
I don't care what you tell me. I'm so confident. I'm so confident. Foles has confidence. Our defense has confidence. We are here. This is what we said we will be in the beginning of the season. And we got here as confidence.
They're used to being here. That's cocky. That's that's a little nonchalant shoulder shrug.
Yeah, we'll do it again. It's not the same type of confidence. It's not the same type of hunger. It's a different level of hunger. And these dogs got to eat. Get it?
Because they was calling us underdogs. Yes, I know. Welcome back to the Rich Eisen Show Radio Network back on the Roku Sports Channel live stream Sirius XM Channel 375 as well. I'm sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk furnished by Grangewood Supplies and solutions for every industry. Grainger has the right product for you.
Call click Grainger dot com or just stop by our guest here on the Rich Eisen Show, one of the most successful producers in film and television. And he's now got a new motivational book out. Who better than you?
It is written by none other than Will Packer here on the Rich Eisen Show. Good to see you, sir. How are you doing? I am great. Can I just say something?
Please. I watched the show. I listen to the show like everybody at home.
It is more comfortable than you think, guys. I'm going to tell you about the show. The set plays well. I'm a producer. I have an eye for these things. I'm qualified to say this. Yes, sir.
It plays well on television. It's even more comfortable in real life. Like, I may not leave.
Like, I might take my shoes off. Dude, I saw snacks in the back like this is like the ultimate living room. I'm looking for the bar, though. I'm not sure. We've got I mean, what do you what do you want? Is there OK? All right.
Well, I don't need it now because I want to I want to be coherent on the show. It's five o'clock somewhere. And it is indeed.
And I see it now. And I know you're on a book tour. I am. I am on a book tour.
So that means I'm always looking for a drink. That's what that means. I love it.
And by the way, congrats on this book. I only read half the title. This speaks to me. Who better than you?
The art of healthy arrogance and dreaming big. I like it. And it's interesting, again, will that, you know, obviously you had me at hello and I have you on any time. And this book, the phrase that I've been saying to Chris and everybody around here, this is year 11 for us.
And we were a podcast before we were this show. Yes. The phrase I say is, if not me, who not now, when?
Yes. That is our mantra here on this program. And that is the mantra of the most successful people in the world. And I've been very fortunate. I've been in the game 30 years, Rich.
It's like sneaks up on you. But in a three decade career, I've like you had an opportunity to work with some incredibly successful people, some people that are known around the globe. And one of the similarities that they all have is this concept that not I could be successful, not I might be successful, but that I deserve success, that I will be successful.
What you just said, who better than us? Right. Right. And so the reality is that being in the game, as long as I have being around these folks, I really feel like there's a set of transferable skills that I've learned dealing with some of these folks.
I'm telling stories in the book of some of my most fun Hollywood disasters, as well as some triumphs and everything in between. But the point of it all is that these successful people walk into a room and they don't ask, do I belong in this room? They say not only do I belong in this room, this room is better because I'm in it and I've got something to add to this room, which is the difference between healthy arrogance and toxic arrogance. Right. That was going to be my question is describing healthy arrogance for the audience.
What is what is that? It is that supreme confidence that there is nobody more deserving of success than you. You walk into a room full of successful people, you feel like you belong, but it's not I am better than everybody else here.
It's not I'm a winner because you're a loser. That's toxic arrogance. That is that unsubstantiated hubris that we see all throughout my industry, Hollywood and many industries. This is more this feeling of I am just as good as anybody else and I've got something to contribute because true leadership, as you know, Rich, is about getting other people to see a commonality in your goal and in your vision. You can get other people to buy into what you're trying to do. Your likelihood of achieving that success is so much higher.
It is so much greater because now you and I are rowing in the same direction. But now to do that, there's certain things I have to do. I have to listen to you. I have to know what motivates you, what's important to you have to figure out a way that I can align your goals with my goal. Ultimately, keeping my eye on what's important for me means making sure that people around me also buy into that. But it also first and foremost means that, you know, your goal is important.
Who better than you? The art of healthy arrogance and dreaming big Will Packer. It's wherever you get your books right now. How did you get started? How did it all get started for you? Man, I was an engineering major at Florida A&M University. I am a proud graduate of FAMU and I got a scholarship because I was strong in math and science. But I didn't have a passion for engineering. And I, like a lot of people didn't know what my passion was.
Right. Like, you know, when I hear people say, oh, I'm looking for my passion. What's the thing that's going to wake me up in the morning and make life worth living? And I say, listen, that's great for an after school special.
It doesn't work in real life. Oftentimes you got to kind of find it along the way. So for me, you know, I was majoring in engineering and working hard.
Right. I graduated magna cum laude, but along the way, I hooked up with a guy who knew he wanted to be a filmmaker. And I helped him cast in and finance and ultimately self distribute the film. I say, oh, this is what's this called? What did I just do? Oh, that's called producing.
I said, there you go. That's where I'm going to be. I'm going to be a producer.
And that's kind of how it got started. And then along the way of using a skill set that I had some innately and some I honed and learn on the job training, I fell in love with the art of storytelling. That's how I found my passion. So I didn't wait for it to find me. I got busy being active at doing something I was good at. That's what I I encourage people to do who are trying to find their passion. And so you weren't growing up saying, I want to be working in the film and television business.
Never. I grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, Rich Isaac. I didn't know where Hollywood was. The Hollywood I knew was in Miami.
You know what I mean? Hollywood, Florida. So no, I knew nobody in L.A. I didn't have like, you know, famous friends or any money or nothing like that. So what was your biggest break then? How did you make that happen? You know what? Honestly, it was doing it on my own. Right. Like, I can't say and listen, nobody is successful individually.
And I'm very, very careful to make sure that, you know, I give props to people who I stand on the shoulders of. But I always say the way to get successful in Hollywood is to be successful without Hollywood. And that was my story. I went out and I was doing independent films. So I shot this first little tiny movie called Chocolate City. We raised about 20 grand and turned that into about one hundred thousand dollars, which is all the money in the world for some broke college students.
Sure. Then graduated and did another little tiny movie. I was still not taking my calls. That little movie we shot for about seventy five thousand dollars. And that when we self-distributed, literally drove city to city to city and turn that into about a million dollars in box office. That's when Hollywood called. And so you got to kind of go out.
I always say the most important person to help you is you. And so for me, the break, I mean, my first number one movie was called Stomp the Yard. Remember that Stomp the Yard, you know, was was a dance movie set on a college campus. That was my first ever number one movie. Nobody in Hollywood saw it coming. Everybody in Hollywood passed on that movie twice. True story.
Twice. Absolutely. I would come back into these rooms, Rich, and they would say, didn't you just leave? I'd be like, yeah, but I got it. Like, no, it's the same thing. No, but I got a different take on it, dude. We saw you.
You just change your blazer. We know it's you. Right.
I would literally go back in those same rooms. But all it took was one. Yes, I got a ton of nose. But that one. Yes. Yeah. Is the one that allowed me to make that movie. It was for a division of Sony Pictures called Screen Gems. And that movie was number one at the box office for two weeks in a row.
And that's when Hollywood say, hey, who's this Will Packer guy? And I'm sure, though, you've made deals since then with people who initially told, you know, to start all of them, all of them. Absolutely.
How do you like me now? Yeah, absolutely. That's why, you know, and I always tell people you got to be careful because, you know, that old adage, the same people you pass on the way up, I mean, the same ones you see on the way down. Right. Treat everybody the same.
I am a big believer in that. My first movie after college, I was an intern on a set. I was wrangling cables.
I was down Jacksonville, Florida, and I was the lowest of the low. And some people treated me like that and other people treated me like, oh, this is like, you know, a young guy that's trying to figure it out in the industry. And to this day, everybody on that set has asked me for a job. And I remember those who treated me like, you know, I was just a young guy with, you know, dreams and ambitions and treat me with respect. And I remember those who didn't. So treat everybody good.
It's very, very important. So let's drop some names. OK, let's do this right now. You're you're on a book tour for Who Better Than You?
The Art of Healthy Arrogance and Dreaming Big. Who's helped? Who's helping you on some of these signs? I got it. Listen, just I couldn't take chances that people would only come out to see Will Packer, the producer, because I'm largely behind the scenes rich. So I I started for New York, Sonny Hostin for The View hosted my book talk there in New York.
I did one in Atlanta with Mr. Ludacris. I've heard of him. You know, I've heard of him. He's got a he's going to make it someday. So he's got a he's got a song or two. Luda's got a little bit on the ball.
Luda is OK. He's my guy in L.A. I've got Regina Hall doing my book tour stop.
Incredible Regina Hall. Yes. Then I've got Mr. Stephen A. Smith, your buddy and contemporary.
He's doing Tampa, actually. President President Smith. Have you heard that? President?
Imagine that. Here's the thing about President Smith and even the fact that you can say that with a straight face. I don't put anything past the man. You can't put anything past the world, sir, because like, you know, 10 years ago, you go, what? Like, you know, come on. Schwarzenegger was the outlier.
Like, other than that, everybody's going to be tried and true politician. These days, sir. I mean, Rich is there if you want it. That's right. You want it. I could see it.
Governor Eisen. I'm just saying I'm putting it out there. I would definitely have a lot of executive orders on the first day. That is for sure. But you got an idea for. Right.
I'm into the tour with with Kevin Hart, Miami. I got to mention my guy. All right.
So a few of these. Let's let's let's hit one by one. Regina Hall, T.J., you would like to attend that that book signing?
I mean, who wouldn't like to? It's all right. I know people, T.J., I got you, brother. I can look you up. We can we can talk after this. I got you. I got you. I'm going to be professional here, guys. Come on.
Since we're amazing. Literally, like one of I am such a big fan of hers and I've been very fortunate to work with some ensemble cast. I make girls trip with her and and and think like a man. Also, she was in that I've done a few movies with her.
I mean, one of the absolute one of my absolute favorites and just so good, so talented, such an amazing professional. So, T.J., I'm just saying, brother, I know her. I actually know her. That's all.
Wow. If you're saying there's a chance, that's all he needs to know. How did you cross paths with Stephen A.?
How did that happen? Stephen A. and I have known each other for a very long time. Where did I first meet Stephen A. Smith?
I have to go back and think about it, honestly. But we've we've kind of just, you know, Stephen A., you know, he he flits around Hollywood circles. So, you know, I don't mean that in any kind of a demeaning way, just that he's got a lot of friends and a lot of places. And so I probably when I was bringing actors to do his show maybe years ago for one of my movies.
OK. And we've just been fast friends and just, you know, keep in contact. And so he's come a long way from Hollis, Queens. That is very long way from from being a HBCU basketball player that that didn't make it.
You know, he thought he was going to the league. Well, what was his stat line? Well, it was very bad. Very bad. I think it said bad on the stat sheet. I think they just. Yeah. They were like, why pulling numbers? Just bad.
Instead of deep DNP CD coach's decision is less than sign. You know what I mean? Sounds like you're picking stuff up from Kevin Hart too. He found his way in journalism.
He's definitely found his way. Yes. OK. And so Kevin Hart.
Yeah. You got to be a good Kevin Hart story. You want to pass along.
What do you have? Kevin Hart almost sucked my career. Right. As as I was literally the getting going. So I had had a few movies and Kevin Hart had been it was somebody that had Hollywood was not really checking for. OK. And we made a movie called Think Like a Man, which is based on a book by Steve Harvey. And it came out and it was number one, the box office performed really well. The very next movie was The Breakout for Kevin, because that was an ensemble.
The next movie was a movie called Ride Along. Kevin Hart and Ice Cube, the consummate straight man O.G. Ice Cube. Right. I got camp.
I got cube. Biggest budget of our careers showing everybody that the movie wasn't a fluke. It's our time. I'm on set with Kevin Hart. He calls me in his trail. He's like, hey, next Friday, I need to get off a little bit early because I got to go do a show. I said, OK, let me just check the schedule. I said, Kevin, actually, not only do we have a big day Friday, we shoot Saturday as well. That's the worst day for you to get off early. He's like, do we shoot Saturday?
You know, somebody gives you that high pitched voice that, you know, they're lying. You know, they know. So he gave me the Kevin Hart.
Do we shoot Saturday? I didn't realize that. Well, he gave me that. So it turns out that he actually double booked himself while we're in the most major movie of our career. He has booked his next comedy stand up special to be filmed live to be filmed at Madison Square Garden, sir, in New York City. And he is springing this on me the week before said show.
So I have no choice but to try to figure this out. Let me tell you how my very good friend, very loyal, very hard working is a spawn of Satan because he then says, OK, well, listen, I know I should have told you earlier, but trust me, I got you fly up there with me. I'm going to go do the show. We're going to fly back this same night, get back and I'll shoot the next day. I promise you, I got it. You'll be there to make sure that everything goes right. I can tell that you gentlemen are intelligent and realize how it was being set up.
Yes, sir. It wasn't until I was in a nightclub at an after party for his show with Kevin Hart and Carmelo Anthony bringing over copious amounts of bottles with sparklers, sparklers going, we're going to die tonight, fellas. He literally said that we were going to have such a good time. We're going to die tonight. No, no, we can't die tonight. I got to shoot in the morning. We can die later, like during the playoffs.
The Knicks won't be there. Like, come on. Anyway, at that moment when Kevin goes, well, I tried, I realized it was like usual suspects within Kaiser. So when you realize that guys would say, well, I was like, he planned this because he's no longer walking with a limb.
If just the star leaves set, right. And then doesn't come back in the movies in jeopardy, the stars in big trouble. If the producer of the movie is with him, I'm complicit. I'm the one, it all falls on me. It was a harrowing night that is one of the many stories I tell and the lesson I learned from it, which is expect the unexpected and always believe people when they show you who they are.
I knew Kevin Hart was the type to pull something like this and I still let him get it past me. Never again. So follow ups, follow ups. When did you return to Senate? I had to get a police escort from that nightclub. I literally begged Carmelo Anthony to take a die tonight rain check. I said, let's not die tonight. Let's die later. I've got to get him back.
And I literally had like 40 minutes to get to Teterboro, the private airport in New York before my pilots timed out and it would have all been for not. So I got a police at, I bet Carmelo Anthony, he goes, all right, get out of here. I'm gonna let you go this one time.
I knocked drinks out of everybody's hand. Kevin, let's go. I grab him by his collar. I have cops escorted us to the private jet and we literally take off with like 15 minutes to spare before the pilots would have timed out. We get back an hour before our call time.
We all go straight to set straight from the nightclub, hair and makeup and wardrobe. They go to Kevin, get him done. And he's on set and we shot that whole day. And I actually was able to finish the movie. Grace of God.
I mean, it's crazy. How did, uh, the pros pro of cube handle all of this? Was he aware of the way he always handles it, which is like, I mean, you know, I'm ready when he is. Where is he? Is it time to shoot? I tell you, I tell you another story. I shot right along at the same time that we shot straight out of Compton and I executive reduced that movie. And so I'm on set with, this was right along to actually with ice cube and ice cube is shooting opposite Kevin Hart and we have these iPads where we're watching the live, uh, production happening of straight out of Compton in LA. We were shooting in Miami and Atlanta and ice cube. Remember he's in a movie acting, but the definitive story of NWA is being shot on the other side of the country that he's watching. By the way, his son, his movie debut for his son, O'Shea Jackson Jr is happening.
By the way, his son is playing him. I was on set with cube. I was like, how are you keeping all this straight? Like how in the world with everything going on, are you able to then go do like jokes with Kevin Hart with all day?
He was like, Hey man, you got to stay focused. You got to keep the main thing, the main thing. I live that mantra to this day, too many times, rich, we give too much energy to things we can't control. We lose our focus, right?
We all have a finite amount of energy that we can pour into the things we're trying to accomplish. You got to keep the main thing, the main thing. So Q was like, when I'm on set, I'm on set. When I'm not, I'm watching what's going on. I'm calling back to the director, calling to my son. But then when I got to go back and act, I act, I stay focused.
I keep the main thing, the main thing. I learned that from him. I love that man. One of our favorite people is O'Shea Jackson Jr. who frequently appears on this program and also co-hosts a weekly wrestling pod, no contest wrestling with that gentleman over your right shoulder. He is the man TJ that's right. Yes, he is. So we say Junior is super talented for sure. Yeah. Great stories. We can go on and on and on and on.
But you've got a book signing to get to fight night with Kevin Hart. Yes. Is on Peacock. Yes. That's on the nine NAACP nominations.
Number one drama for best limited series. Congratulations. Very proud of that. Thank you, sir. As well.
You should. What's ready to love? Ready? Love is a dating show. Ready to Love is the longest running African-American dating show on television. I am like chocolate cupid, Rich Eisen. I'm setting folks up.
I have been doing this for 10 years. This season we're in Philly. Is this Philly needed something else to celebrate? And so it is literally a show where you take people in their 40s and 50s. So a little bit older demographic.
And you put them all together. It's got all the mess and drama of a reality show. It's a little more honest and earnest. And so it's it's a fun show. So it runs on Oprah Winfrey's own. Yeah. What's all right.
What's it like taking a business meeting with Oprah Winfrey and saying, I want to do what I want to be. Do you use the chocolate cupid line? No, no, I didn't. I don't dare with Queen Oh, because you got to be careful because if you drop a joke with Queen Oh and it doesn't land like you just like you lose your citizenship, you know, like it's just it's over.
Queen Oh can cancel you. You know, so I didn't use that. But I told her, you know, when she told me and I actually I pitched the show to her at her house. So, OK, yeah, I'm not just name dropping rich. I'm location drop.
I'm geolocation dropping brothers. I was at a Promised Land is what those of us who know call it OK. It's called Promised Land, which is her incredible months in Montecito. And I was there staring out at her orchid of trees. And I said, you know, I got this idea for the show. And she goes, Will Packer, as long as you don't put no mess on my network, don't put no mess on my network.
Will Packer. I said, Oprah, I will not put no mess on your network, ma'am. And she said, all right, go do what you do. So it's cool. It was it was it's been I've actually had several shows on her network and had an opportunity to work with her. She actually this book is on her top best help, her top self self-help books of twenty twenty five years. So that's kind of cool to get that is great to get the thumbs up from the queen. I love that. So her phrase, no mess is shorthand for the one end of the reality television spectrum.
Yes. You know what no mess means. We were one of the first and maybe the first unscripted show on her network, especially like this.
I'll say the first definitely dating show. And she was like, listen, my name's on this no mess on my network will never forget. She said that kept me up at night. I had a no mess meter when we would be editing that show together.
I was like, yeah, I got to get back to Promised Land someday. Don't mess me up. So funny. You're the best man at willpower. Packer on Instagram.
Yes. And of course, who better than you? The art of healthy arrogance and dreaming big where all books are sold right now.
Fight Night on Peacock. Ready to love on own and so much more. What a delight. Thank you for meeting you in person. Absolutely. It's cool.
I love it. I'll be here when you guys come in tomorrow because it looks like you could stay here, guys. I'm just telling you, you get a chance to do a tour of Rich Eisen's tours, but it is very cool. It's like the most amazing man cave you ever want to see. We call it a five star tour.
One minute for every star that we have one star for every minute or second it takes. But there's a lot of other neat stuff around here. I like it, brother. I really do. The studio space, the great Will Packer.
Everybody had his book. Who better than you right here on The Rich Eisen Show. Let's talk TurboTax people. You might be sitting there going, wait a minute, Rich.
I don't get it. It's not April. Why am I thinking about my taxes now?
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Get an expert now on TurboTax.com. No one knows music like Rolling Stone. Senior writer Brian Hyatt talks the biggest music news from the biggest stars. Almost everyone is teaming up on Drake. It's like Drake versus the world.
Yeah. You first met Prince. You were driving for him before you were drumming for him.
That's correct. Stevie Wonder. You kind of have to understand how Stevie began. Right radio. That's where the money was. That's where it still is.
You know what I'm saying? Rolling Stone music now. Follow and listen on your favorite platform. If you wouldn't mind, I would love to role play with you. Just real briefly, Gronk. Okay? Where I play the role of somebody that I'm kind of familiar with and you play the role of somebody that you're familiar with. If you don't mind, I'm going to play a guy who went to Michigan. Okay? Who's a leader in his field. His name is Tom.
And you play the role of a tight end with a hall of fame resume. Okay? And the time is going to be, hmm, let's go November 1st, 2019. In the future.
Not too distant future. Would you mind if we quickly role play this out? We got one scene. Okay. Here we go.
One scene. Here we go. Ready?
Chris, say action when you got it. Okay. Ready? All right, guys. Ready?
Action. Hey, Rob. It's Tom. How you been?
Hey, Tom. Good, man. I've been doing great, man. You're still killing it.
You're like 42 years old now. I mean, I know you miss me, Tom. I know you do. I do. I do.
Gronk, I do, man. It's not just me. It's everybody. We all miss you. And you know, things are going great. You know, Bill's a pain in the ass, but it's really, you know, it's really, it's really something that could be better with you. Would you, would you think of coming back and playing with me, Rob?
Oh, Tom. I mean, you know, I miss you too. I miss the guys, but I'm just chilling, man. I'm down in the Bahamas right now.
Just relaxing. I got sipping my water and I got, I got your electrolytes in it. Don't worry, baby.
I got the electrolytes in the water and I'm sipping on a protein margarita, Tom. So thank you. I love you. I miss you.
I'm just relaxing, homie. There's no chance, Rob. This is Tom.
You know, call me when you get to the playoffs. Rob, Rob, you're a natural, man. You are a natural.
You're a natural. That was great. That was so funny. I don't know how it sounded. That was lifelike to me.
I thought that was pretty good. Just love the Gronk giggle. Just appeared at the combine. Nobody asked him about Gronk.
What? I just read the, uh, the email from the NFL. I mean the NFL network news desk. It's just like one email after another. Everybody's talking to me. So much happening right now.
Packers, general manager Gudekunz confirmed that they're the ones who's trying to get the tush push out of the game. Oh, Sirianic spoke about it today as well. Susie is going to be all over that subject matter tomorrow. When, uh, when she sits in the chair, I'll be making my way out to Indianapolis.
She's the one. How about Nance was all over. Remember Nance mentioned that in, in, in the what the football pod the day, two days after the Super Bowl. I had no idea that this was going to be the conversation come, um, combine week. It's happening. Everybody's talking about it. Could the league possibly get rid of the tush push?
That would piss off the Philadelphia Eagles fans. I was the first to mention it on January 28th. Oh, good. That's good.
Good for you. Hyundai everybody. The folks at Hyundai have got advanced safety features that can alert you to potential dangers around you. One of the many reasons for you to check out a Hyundai right now. Hyundai has got over 120 IIHS top safety awards since 2006, because Hyundai is always working to ensure the road doesn't get you or a loved one. That might be just about to get his or her, you know, um, driver's permit.
Hyundai vehicles have won over 120 IIHS top safety awards from 2006 to 2024. I'm 10 years from that. Thank goodness. Hey guys. Um, Hey, Steven Jones had this to say when talking about the Cowboys approach to free agency this year. Remember the all in stuff last year, they hardly did a darn thing.
Hit it. We're going to look at everything we can. We're going to be selectively aggressive.
We obviously, you know, there's things in this league you have to, you know, you have certain, uh, amount of resources they allow you to have. And you know, we'll look at that, but, uh, we're going to try to improve our football team, not try. We're going to improve our football team. And, uh, you know, we expect to have success next year. I love it. I love it. All in was last year's phrase.
We have a new one this year. Thank you, Mr. Steven Jones. One of our favorites here on the program, selectively aggressive. And I thought to myself, it sounds like, uh, was it the original working title for comfortably numb?
I have become selectively aggressive, you know, no, it's, you know, you know, really what it is. It sounds like a laminate for a tour and we made it up. There it is. TJ, we're going to give you this laminate. It's a backstage pass to the Dallas Cowboys, selectively aggressive free agency tour of 2025. Hold on a minute, TJ. It's not just, it's not just the back. If it's, if it's going to be a music, if it's going to be a tour, if people have to get tickets to go get a backstage pass, it's gotta be merged too.
And we're going to make those up to there. It is. There it is. Would you like one of these t-shirts or a hoodie?
No, I would not. Delicious. Seriously.
There you go. Selectively aggressive free agency tour for the Dallas Cowboys beat this to death. Oh, you have no earthly idea. You have got to be smoking something over there because guess what?
Guess what? It is better than indiscriminately aggressive. Like we're just going to start, we're just going to start trying to get free agents willy nilly. There's a plan and it's to be selectively aggressive out there. It's going to be great. Get your tickets, get your merch, get your merch everybody.
Break out the bottle and you'll be drunk. The bigger pockets podcast network is your home. Get it for real estate investing. I am very tired of people saying that your primary residence is not an investment. Get real talk from real estate pros about investing strategies that work. I bought a house for a dollar and it makes me a million dollars. You can become a real estate millionaire over the course of like five or six years. No one needs a stock. No one needs cryptocurrency. They need a house. Bigger pockets. Follow and listen on your favorite platform.
